Conservation biology and genetic diversity of the Alpine clematis (Clematis alpina, Ranunculaceae)

The Alpine clematis (Clematis alpina L., Ranunculaceae) is the only liana growing at high altitudes in the Alps. It grows from 800 m.a.s.l. up to more than 2000 m.a.s.l., where it prefers semi-shady sites such as sparse coniferous forests or alpine rose bushes. Taking into account the Central European and East-Asiatic subspecies (C. alpina subsp. sibirica and subsp. ochotensis), the Alpine clematis has a range that extends all the way from Europe to Japan. In Switzerland, the distribution of the species is disjunct: C. alpina is mainly found in the southeastern part of the country (Grisons and Ticino), whereas only a few populations are known to exist in the cantons of Fribourg and Bern, and there are no records of its occurrence in between. The Alpine clematis populations in Western Switzerland seem therefore to be a relict and mark the north-western limit of the species worldwide. Such edge populations have great conservation value, as they are often genetically distinct and better adapted to environmental changes. The distribution and phylogeographic pattern of C. alpina in Switzerland have never been studied in detail. Our project aims to dive into these topics in order to assess the conservation status of the Alpine clematis in the cantons of Fribourg as well as Bern and to deliver a well- founded basis for its long-term conservation.

高山铁线莲（Clematis alpina L.，毛茛科（Ranunculaceae））是阿尔卑斯山区高海拔区域唯一的木质藤本植物。其生长海拔范围为800米至2000米以上，偏好半阴生境，如稀疏针叶林或高山蔷薇灌丛。若计入中欧与东亚亚种（C. alpina subsp. sibirica与C. alpina subsp. ochotensis），高山铁线莲的分布范围可从欧洲一直延伸至日本。在瑞士境内，该物种的分布呈间断格局：高山铁线莲主要分布于该国东南部（格劳宾登州与提契诺州），而弗里堡州与伯尔尼州仅记录到少量种群，两州之间无该物种的分布记录。因此瑞士西部的高山铁线莲种群属于孑遗种群，同时也是该物种全球分布的西北界限。这类边缘种群具有极高的保护价值，因其通常具备独特的遗传特征且更能适应环境变化。此前针对瑞士境内高山铁线莲的分布格局与系统地理（phylogeographic）模式尚未开展过详细研究。本项目旨在深入探究上述议题，以评估弗里堡州与伯尔尼州境内高山铁线莲的保护现状，并为其长期保护提供科学可靠的依据。